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Original poster

Royal Mail have delivered my parcel to a different address, I am going round in circles trying to locate it.

31 replies

ClockwatchingClara · 09/05/2025 10:52

How can I get it back?

I ordered a gift for my daughter last week worth £50.

It hadn't arrived so I tracked it on the Royal Mail website to find it was delivered on 1st May but the photo is not from my property nor from any of my neighbours houses.

I have contacted the company I ordered the items from but all they can do is send me the tracking number. I went to my local post office but they say it wasn't delivered by them it was via the main depot. I have tried contacting Royal Mail but their website just sends me round the same circles, the automated help does the same thing and the phone number leaves me on hold half the bloody day.

What can I do?

OP posts:
cherrycherrypickin · 09/05/2025 10:56

Your contract is with the shop. It's up to them to chase Royal Mail. Don't let the seller fob you off.

JojoM1981 · 09/05/2025 10:57

cherrycherrypickin · 09/05/2025 10:56

Your contract is with the shop. It's up to them to chase Royal Mail. Don't let the seller fob you off.

I was about to say this too.

LeavesTrees · 09/05/2025 11:09

This happened to me. I phoned Royal Mail and they didn’t really care. Made noises about looking into it and then did nothing. I then did some detective work myself and looked on Google at what front doors looked like in the parallel streets to me with the same house number as me. I found the photo matched the house with the same number In the next street across, knocked on the door and luckily it had been delivered to a nice lady who had it waiting for me.

So I would check the front doors if any streets running parallel to yours. I think their GPS is unreliable.

Original poster
ClockwatchingClara · 09/05/2025 11:09

Thanks, I will contact the store again.

OP posts:
Original poster
ClockwatchingClara · 09/05/2025 11:15

LeavesTrees · 09/05/2025 11:09

This happened to me. I phoned Royal Mail and they didn’t really care. Made noises about looking into it and then did nothing. I then did some detective work myself and looked on Google at what front doors looked like in the parallel streets to me with the same house number as me. I found the photo matched the house with the same number In the next street across, knocked on the door and luckily it had been delivered to a nice lady who had it waiting for me.

So I would check the front doors if any streets running parallel to yours. I think their GPS is unreliable.

I'm not sure if I'd be able to do that as the pic is just of two bins with my parcel on top.

I have lived in the same village all my life, I don't recognise this as anywhere near my house tbh.

Royal Mail have delivered my parcel to a different address, I am going round in circles trying to locate it.
OP posts:
stopringingme · 09/05/2025 11:16

@ClockwatchingClara
If you track the parcel and look at the proof of delivery it should give you a photo, map of the delivery and GPS coordinates - although the last two items might just bring up your address.

Do you have a local Facebook page you can post on to see if anyone recognises the doorstep shown in the photo.

I agree though the company you bought from should be dealing with it, you could always threaten to do a charge back on your card, it might focus their mind to help you.

If you see your local postie might be worth showing them the delivery photo as they might recognise the door as posties change rounds so often now.

HeartyOchreHelper · 09/05/2025 11:18

Post it on your local Facebook page to see if anyone recognises it, we have daily posts like this here.

When I lived in a complex of flats I had a few parcels delivered to the wrong block - always Yodel! It’s so annoying. You’d hope the person who got it would do the right thing and deliver it to your house but sometimes I had to go hunting for it.

Changeyourlifes · 09/05/2025 11:19

I’m not being funny but that parcel on the bins is long gone and you’re wasting time trying to hunt for it. The retailer is unreasonable for not refunding/replacing that as it was clearly delivered to an inappropriate place.

Cheerfulcharlie · 09/05/2025 11:21

Did you definitely provide the correct address when you placed the order? Might be worth double checking the address didn't do a weird 'autocorrect' at checkout without you noticing.

Mexicansky · 09/05/2025 11:30

You need to chase up the seller. It’s their issue as the item hasn’t been delivered to you at the right address. They need to send a replacement out to you and then they claim from Royal Mail.
this happens to me a lot - two roads with the same name 5 mins apart!

WWomble · 09/05/2025 11:33

I agree with the previous advice. Your contract is with the seller, hassle them. I would also post to local facebook groups. When I had this issue I posted to facebook, but the most helpful person was my postie - who immediately contacted me and knew exactly where it was.

Original poster
ClockwatchingClara · 09/05/2025 11:38

I've popped it onto the local FB group to see if anyone recognises it.

OP posts:
Original poster
ClockwatchingClara · 09/05/2025 11:43

Cheerfulcharlie · 09/05/2025 11:21

Did you definitely provide the correct address when you placed the order? Might be worth double checking the address didn't do a weird 'autocorrect' at checkout without you noticing.

I've double checked, details are all correct.

OP posts:
Original poster
ClockwatchingClara · 09/05/2025 11:44

Mexicansky · 09/05/2025 11:30

You need to chase up the seller. It’s their issue as the item hasn’t been delivered to you at the right address. They need to send a replacement out to you and then they claim from Royal Mail.
this happens to me a lot - two roads with the same name 5 mins apart!

I do wonder if it's been delivered to the next village which has a road with the same name as ours.

OP posts:
Tortielady · 09/05/2025 11:45

PPs are correct. Royal Mail's customer, in this context, isn't you, it's the seller. Your grievance/issue is with the seller as it's them you have a contract with. If contact via the usual phone/messaging/email routes don't resolve things, take it onto social media. Companies hate having their failings aired in public and as long as you pursue other means first and stay polite, you won't be in the wrong.

Original poster
ClockwatchingClara · 09/05/2025 11:46

WWomble · 09/05/2025 11:33

I agree with the previous advice. Your contract is with the seller, hassle them. I would also post to local facebook groups. When I had this issue I posted to facebook, but the most helpful person was my postie - who immediately contacted me and knew exactly where it was.

I often see my postie on my dog walk, I'll ask him when I see him soon.

OP posts:
CalicoPusscat · 09/05/2025 11:56

Hope postie can give you some info and you're able to retrieve it.

If not, flex your biceps and ask for a replacement from the shop (or reverse the payment if CC)

FatLarrysBanned · 09/05/2025 11:56

This happens to me so often that I now have the phone number (and she has mine) of the address that my parcels go to. Our streets are fairly close to each other with similar names like 14 Ashton Way and 14 Ashton Hill. I often get her takeaway deliveries as well!

loropianalover · 09/05/2025 11:58

FatLarrysBanned · 09/05/2025 11:56

This happens to me so often that I now have the phone number (and she has mine) of the address that my parcels go to. Our streets are fairly close to each other with similar names like 14 Ashton Way and 14 Ashton Hill. I often get her takeaway deliveries as well!

Irritates me so much when streets are named like this! We’ve got endless ‘Ashton west’ and ‘Ashton east’, and ‘Ashton Drive’ which is nowhere near ‘Ashton Road’!

CoastalCalm · 09/05/2025 12:11

ClockwatchingClara · 09/05/2025 11:44

I do wonder if it's been delivered to the next village which has a road with the same name as ours.

Show quote history

I’d give them a knock and find out

RareGoalsVerge · 09/05/2025 12:20

Stop taking responsibility for other people's failures.

Your contract is with the shop to supply you with the thing. They contracted Royal Mail to deliver the thing. Royal Mail failed. It is Royal Mail's responsibility to sort this but they won't deal with you as their contract is with the shop.

You tell the shop that their attitude is unacceptable. They have to pursue Royal Mail for the item they lost. If Royal Mail cannot produce the item then Royal Mail compensate the shop for the loss. Meanwhile you are entitled to a full refund, right now, without having to wait for Royal Mail to pull their finger out.

C152 · 09/05/2025 12:23

That's not all your supplier can do. They can refund you or send another item. Legally, it is not your responsibility to track the parcel down on behalf of either the supplier or Royal Mail, unless you explicitly gave Royal Mail permission to deliver the parcel elsewhere/to a safe space.

You need to go back to the company you ordered from and say that, 'under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, your Company is responsible for making sure my order is delivered to me at my address or to an agreed alternative safe place. I did not agree to my order being left in an alternative place and I have not received it. Since you are in breach of contract, I am entitled to a full refund.'

I had the same issue with a company's chosen courier randomly delivering my parcel to an unknown address. The supplier tried to claim they'd only refund me if I returned the product - which I had no way of doing, as I had no idea where it was delivered to. After a few pathetic emails where they claimed there was nothing they could do, I requested the complaint be escalated and used the above wording re the Consumer Rights Act. I was refunded within hours.

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/my-delivery-or-online-order-hasn-t-arrived-what-can-i-do-aLlda9w2pukM

My delivery or online order hasn't arrived, what can I do? - Which?

Your rights if your delivery arrives late or goes missing

https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/my-delivery-or-online-order-hasn-t-arrived-what-can-i-do-aLlda9w2pukM

HÆLTHEPAIN · 09/05/2025 12:30

Agree with pps. But reiterating to give you even more confidence in pursuing it. This is not your issue. The seller has not fulfilled their contract to you. Contact the seller again and say as C152 posts above, and tell them what remedy you want. If you still want the item ask them to send another, if not, ask for a full refund. If they still fob you off do a chargeback with your bank and keep any correspondence from the seller and Royal Mail as proof as sometimes the bank ask for it.

AnchorWHAT · 09/05/2025 14:54

Happened to me , i searched for ages as the photo showed it in someones shed. Someone pointed out to me that on the proof of delivery picture were some numbers that were coordinates and entering them on google maps showed me exactly where it was and lo and behold there it was in a shed on an empty property. Someone upthread explained the coordinates way better than me, good luck.

Emilysmum90 · 09/05/2025 15:16

I'd contact the shop and let them do the detective work tbh. Just say it's gone missing in transit and can you be sent a replacement.

I once ordered a car seat from John Lewis and the courier took it to the wrong address, JL spent a good week telling me they'd delivered it to my house, was I sure it wasn't there? Imagine the size of a Maxi cosi box, it hadn't just dropped down the side of the radiator. Eventually they sent the courier back to wherever he left it to check the person's ID and lo and behold it wasn't me. They eventually sent another but God it took forever. Keep pestering the shop, every day till they sort it.